As some of the nation’s largest central station alarm-monitoring companies join the ASAP to PSAP program, 9-1-1 centers are as well.

Becky Lane, vice-president of membership and programs at the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), told attendees at APCO’s Emerging Technology Forum in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday that PSAPs registering for the service have increased significantly in the past 18 months.

In 2015, SDM Magazine—a trade magazine covering the security marketplace—ranked the largest central station alarm monitoring companies. Eight of the top ten—ADT, Stanley Convergent Security Solutions, Vivint, Monitronics, Protection 1, Diebold, Vector and Guardian Protection Services—are all active program partners. A ninth, Tyco Integrated Security, is in the onboarding process.

The ASAP to PSAP protocol allows for the electronic data exchange between central station alarm monitoring companies and PSAPs, without the need for a phone call. It also establishes a two-way communication link with PSAP and field personnel and the monitoring company, so keyholders or responsible persons can be requested of the monitoring company directly from the field without generating additional phone calls.

Lane cited recent a study in Houston, Texas comparing 2014 to 2015 alarm monitoring statistics before and after implementing the ASAP to PSAP protocol. In 2014, 12 percent of alarm calls placed to Houston were processed using ASAP to PSAP, while the number rose to 20 percent in 2015—representing more than 75,000 calls. Lane stated that, on average, fire, medical and burglary alarms generate 18-20 percent of calls for service in PSAPs.

“Implementing this program can reduce workload, allowing telecommunicators to focus on their next task, rather than answering another non-emergency phone call,” Lane said.

While APCO and CSAA worked closely since 2008 to develop standards directing automated secure alarm protocols, updating ANSI Standard 2.101.2-2014 just a few years ago, it wasn’t until incorporating Nlets as the platform to share data between alarm monitoring companies and PSAPs that the program really took off.

Nlets is the international justice and public safety network traditionally used to transmit criminal justice information via NCIC between law enforcement agencies. Accessing this platform allowed instant access to more than 80 percent of the 6,000 PSAPs—basically, any currently dispatching for law enforcement agencies.

Monitoring companies pay a fee to CSAA to help cover infrastructure development and consulting costs, so the program can be offered at no cost to PSAPs. Lane noted some PSAPs may incur a cost to upgrade CAD systems that are compatible with the interface, establish or update their connection to the state Nlets message switch or the personnel necessary to verify addresses as they appear in CAD to be dispatched.

Currently, more than a dozen PSAPs use the program to receive notifications of alarms in their jurisdiction without a phone call. Lane said more than 100 PSAPs are in the process of testing and implementing the program now.

PSAPs only dispatching EMS and or fire services, who do not have an existing Nlets connection, cannot participate in the program yet but Lane said CSAA is actively working on an alternative connection.